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Brevard Public Schools saved $8.5 million by refinancing debt it incurred between 2002 and 2006, a move that will allow leaders to keep many middle and high school teaching positions.

Officials initially planned on refinancing bonds issued in 2002 and 2004, but a favorable market prompted leaders to also refinance 2006 debt – an additional $3 million in savings.

That is paying off in the classroom. District leaders plan on keeping secondary teaching positions in core academic areas and heading off what would have been an increase in their class load.

Initially, Brevard leaders planned on saving money by increasing secondary teaching loads from six out of seven class periods instead of five.

Now, most English, math, science and social studies teachers will not be required to teach the extra class period.

The original amount of savings estimated, $4.6 million, is already factored into the district’s budget cut list, which includes closing Gardendale Elementary on Merritt Island, South Lake Elemenary in Titusville and Clearlake Middle in Cocoa.

Superintendent Brian Binggeli is recommending using part of the remainder — $2.3 million — to help pay for a new financial and human resources software package designed to modernize the district’s current system.

That leaves $1.6 million of savings, which will be split evenly over two school years. Binggeli applauded the accomplishment, but also reminded officials: “we have to understand, this is one-time money.”

“Waiting for us in 2015-16 will be a $3.1 million issue,” he said.

“It does strategically allow us, for the next two years, (to) avoid budget reductions.”

School district leaders are moving forward with budget cuts and the school closures, which a handful of parents and community members spoke against.

District leaders discussed plans to re-purpose those school buildings slated to close at the end of this school year. Gardendale Elementary would be converted to a “teacher store” where instructors can pick up classroom supplies donated to the Brevard Schools Foundation.

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The other two would be used for adult education, among other things.

“In all these efforts, we have no major design changes for the building,” Binggeli said, noting that decision was made in case “we ever need these back for the purpose of an elementary or middle school.”

On Monday some school leaders held staff meetings to discuss the number of teaching positions being cut — and the district’s voluntary and involuntary transfer process.

District leaders say the cuts will be absorbed by retirement or attrition of teachers, and are working to match teachers with openings.

Parents are rallying to find a way to overcome one budget cut: The decision to eliminate corridor busing, which provides transportation to choice schools and programs.

Before the school board meeting started, individuals told FLORIDA TODAY that a parent-led effort is assessing family interest in contracting with a private company.

Parents have set up an online survey to gauge the level of interest and the location of potential bus stops, which will be used to get pricing quotes.

Already, families have expressed a desire for such a service – and a willingness to pay, said Kerry Johnson, a parent and an organizer.

“You have kids – juniors or seniors – that may not have cars that want to graduate from the schools that they started in,” she said. “You’ve got families who are vested in these schools and these programs, they don’t want to drop out because they can’t get a ride.”

About 2,000 students ride corridor buses every day, but it’s not yet known how many are interested in paying for the service.

“The more people we can get to ride, the more successful we’ll be,” she said.

Parent Courtney McMahan said that transportation is a key reason that choice programs are successful.

“We’re going to lose students whose parents don’t have the ability to drive them to school and pick them up every day,” said McMahan, a McNair Middle School parent.